Two weeks exploring the best that Sri Lanka has to offer, the perfect family destination

Sri Lanka has an amazing array of mesmerising sites to visit. From the ancient cave temples of Dambulla to the world famous Temple of the Tooth, there is something to fascinate everyone. We climb to the top of the Lions Rock Fortress in Sigiriya, take a game drive to see elephants in their natural habitat and visit Kandy which is the cultural hub of Sri Lanka. After exploring the tea plantations in the cool highlands we travel to Yala National Park where we take a game drive in search of leopard! Finally we head to the idyllic palm-fringed beaches of the south coast, the perfect end to a varied and fun holiday.

Highlights

Explore the lost city fortress of Sigiriya

Relax on palm-fringed tropical beaches

The ancient cave temple of Dambulla

A game drive in Yala National Park

Cycling through lush green rice paddy fields

Optional game drive to see elephants in their natural habitat

Key information

Two weeks exploring the best that Sri Lanka has to offer, the perfect family destination

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

We arrive in the afternoon at Colombo's Bandaranike Airport and transfer to our hotel at Chilaw on the coast, approximately an hour and a half north of the airport. Those not flying with the group will join us at the hotel in time for the welcome briefing.Carolina Beach Hotel or similar

Day 3

Today we drive out to Sigiriya. This can take approximately 3½ hours but there will be regular stops, including a rest by the lake in the historic city of Kurunegala. The town is famous for its impressive 5th century rock fortress, which rises 600 feet from the plains and overlooks the surrounding countryside, giving far reaching, magnificent views. The afternoon is free to enjoy the town, relax at the hotel and jump in the pool!Sigiriya Village Hotel or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Day 4

Sigiriya is our base for the next two days. Once used as a safe haven from invaders, the route to the top is up a series of steep steps and gangways. Crowning the flat summit of the rock are extensive remains of the King’s Summer Palace from where there are breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside. The descent is much easier and will take a lot less time. Please make sure that your children are accompanied at all times as there are some steep drops on this climb. It is of course optional and you may not wish to climb to the top of the fortress itself. In the afternoon we include the opportunity to cycle slowly through local villages and soak up the atmosphere, which is usually a great experience for everyone.Sigiriya Village Hotel or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Day 5

After breakfast we take a short drive to the 10th century capital of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa. Here there are many Buddhist relics and ruins dating from a thousand years ago when Sinhalese culture reached its zenith. In the afternoon we will go on a safari at Minneriya National Park where we should see elephants in their natural habitat.Sigiriya Village Hotel or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast
Lunch

Day 6

Today we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, for some, the most impressive sight in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, and very well preserved, paintings and statues of the Buddha inside the caves, which date back to the 1st century BC. After lunch we stop at a spice garden near Matale where we can smell the various spices and herbs growing and the resident expert explains their uses. There's a chance to stock up on massage oils, spices and Ayurvedic medicines. We then drive to Kandy.Royal Kandyan Hotel or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Day 7

Kandy is a picturesque hill town situated on a lake and home to Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic. We begin with a visit to the temple during the ceremony. The Tooth of Buddha was taken from the funeral pyre in 543 BC and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. There are normally hundreds of worshippers who visit the temple each day and it is open to the public. We then visit a sari factory, where we learn about these traditional garments that have been worn in Sri Lanka for thousands of years. We will watch how the silk is weaved into rolls of beautiful coloured fabric and there's even time for some dressing up! The rest of the day is free to wander round Kandy, by the lake or take a taxi up to the surrounding hills for wonderful views over the town.Royal Kandyan Hotel or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Day 8

Today we make the spectacular drive through the tea plantation district to Nurawa Eliya. This was the favourite hill station for the British during the colonial era, situated in the cool highland air at 1890m, it has a very British feel to it. Known locally as 'Little England' it is dotted with British style houses, hotels and even a racecourse. The area is famous for its high quality tea and we visit a working plantation later in the day. We stay in the hill country overnight at Bandarrawela.Bandarawela Hotel or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Day 9

This morning we continue on to the Ella Gap where we have spectacular views of the coastal plain nearly 1,000m below. Almost the entire southern part of the island should be in view and on a particularly clear day the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible. We then head south out of the hills to Kataragama down on the plains, which is our base for visiting Yala National Park. After lunch we will have a game drive; the park is best known for its elephants but we may also see deer, monkeys, buffalo and a wide range of bird life. If you are lucky you may also see a leopard as Yala has one of the highest concentrations of these beautiful animals in the world (Please note that the sanctuary is closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. We therefore go to an alternative area close by, usually the Udawalawe National Park).Mandara Rosen or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Days 10-12

Today we leave for the coast and its beautiful palm fringed bays. On the way we stop at Tangalle and walk through a rice field to a village where you can try some unusual local delicacies such as boiled manioc served with coconut and a spicy mixture of chillies, onions, peppers and lemon. You will see daily life and may even take part in some traditional Sri Lankan games. We then head back to our bus in little tractors used by the farmers. For lunch we stop at a house built by Exodus for Tsunami victims; this may well be one of the best curries of your trip! We will arrive at Ahangama in the afternoon and the rest of your time here is free with a chance to swim, relax on the beach or by the pool or do any one of numerous optional activities that your leader can organise for you.Insight Resort or similar

Meals included:
Breakfast

Day 13

We set off today and drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates back to the 17th century, and now a UNESCO world heritage site. On the way we stop at a small folk museum inspired by the local writer Martin Wickramasinghe. The museum is a typical house from the Koggala region and is set amongst beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon.

Essential Info

Visas

Sri Lanka

A visa (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is required if you are British and for most other nationalities. If you do not hold a British passport, please check the visa requirements with your local Sri Lankan Embassy or the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk. Passengers should also be aware of local laws and customs in Sri Lanka (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka/local-laws-and-customs). The mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is an offence; please note that people have been refused entry to Sri Lanka because of visible tattoos of Buddha.

Vaccinations

Sri Lanka

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements.

Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A.

The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice.

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 1 lunch included.

We suggest allowing about GBP15 (USD25) p/p per day for meals.

Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite, or perhaps because of, these influences Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to simply as ‘Rice and Curry’; this is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, ‘sambols,’ and a handful of tiny poppadum’s – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic . The variety is constant and this along with the abundance of fresh seafood and fish ensures the cuisine is a constant highlight of the trip. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note that in Sri Lanka the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example wheat or dairy-free, please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food.

Weather

Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day and night time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30ºC. The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills and especially at Nuwara Eliya and Bandarrawella where daytime temperatures are between 10 - 25ºC and night time temperatures will be chilly (about 10ºC minimum) and a warmish jacket will be needed.

Is this trip for you?

Although this is not a particularly demanding trip, three of the drives are long (over 3 hours with one drive of up to 5 hours) and are on windy mountain roads that can be affected by the rains, which occasionally can cause short delays. The longer drives are broken up with many chances to stop for a view or a refreshing drink. Temperatures can be hot on the plains and chilly in the hills, but because we use an air-conditioned bus, this is not normally a problem.

Accommodation

Hotels

You will spend 12 nights in hotels all with en suite facilities. The hotel at Sigiriya, where you will be spending 3 nights is surrounded by lush jungle and commands stunning views of the magnificent rock fortress. The hotel features a swimming pool and a luxury sauna.

Reviews

Tropical highland wanderer

A good family holiday to Sri Lanka. We certainly saw many aspects of the island, though due to the group size at times it felt more of a bus tour than a cultural experience

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Fear going to sigyris rock

What did you think of your group leader?

He coped reasonably with a large and varied group. Birthdays for part members were well felt with. He did not manage to engage the whole group at all times.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

I'd advise going on a smaller group. Ours was too large

Is there anything else you would like to add?

As above. Time on buses wasted time. It took away from opportunity to see more of the country. In towns when alone we safely wandered and saw the towns as they are.
More of this and less of the tourist trail would be appreciated. We were warned by another tour operator about the safari. Never believed we would witness the 50 jeeps to a herd of elephants that we saw. It all felt manufactured and there for the paying customers. All very safe and sanitised

Best holiday ever!

From a warm welcome at the airport to a sad goodbye at the end, this was the best holiday we have ever had!
Our tour leader ensured we experienced the real Sri Lanka in a responsible way with numerous activities and something to suit everyone. Our group of 8 adults and 8 children (aged 10-17) became great friends and the organisation of our leader meant we could relax and enjoy our holiday. Be warned - going back to work is difficult after such a great trip!!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Kandy festival
Elephant safari
Bike ride

What did you think of your group leader?

Sujeewa was friendly, organised and knowledgeable - all you want in a leader, but so much more. He went out of his way to ensure every single member of the group had a fantastic holiday. He was particularly attentive to the needs of a family tour. Like he said 'if the children are happy, he parents are happy'. We couldn't have asked for a better leader.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Don't miss the optional elephant safari - it was the highlight of our trip in August.
All rooms are air conditioned (can be noisy) with only sheets on the bed (can get cool).
No need to pack an adaptor (hotels will have UK sockets or an adaptor), but a 4-way plug would be useful for charging all the gadgets.
Teenagers - yes, there is wifi!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This is a fantastic trip offering the best of Sri Lanka for families - temples, festivals, historical sites, friendly people and great food - and of course elephants!

Tropical island Wanderer

Sri Lanka is lush, vibrant and colourful and our trip had some fabulous highlights but there is a lot of time on the coach!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing the Rock fortress at Sigriya before breakfast and so in the cool of early morning with very few other tourists around. This excursion offered everything: an exhilarating climb, stunning views, enticing ruins and exquisite paintings.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Tropical Island Wanderer

We had an amazing time on this trip; all of the members of our family- 2 adults and 3 children aged 16, 14 and 12 enjoyed it hugely. It was a great mix of culture, wildlife and beaches! Sri Lanka is a gorgeous island, the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the food was fantastic- we especially enjoyed the food made by local families, which we lucky enough to try several times

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing the rock fortress at Sigiriya was a definite highlight, as was coming pretty much face to face with countless elephants on the game drive near Polonnaruwa. The kindness of the people we met was definitely inspirational.

What did you think of your group leader?

Absolutely brilliant -hugely enthusiastic, friendly, cheerful and informative. Neelaka made everyone feel immediately at ease, and took care of all of the little details for us. We couldn't have asked for a better group leader.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

If you can afford the trip, don't hesitate to go!!
It is definitely worth taking up the guide's offer to set up a "kitty" to cover tips for all of the meals and hotel staff, and for buying bottles of water every day - this makes life a lot easier.
Although it is tempting to just sit by the pool (or the beach towards the end of the trip) when there is any free time, we would recommend fitting in as many of the optional activities that you can. It is also easy to organise your own activities - at Ahangama, we organised a group trip by tuk tuk down the coast to Weligama, and had a superb afternoon of surfing (or trying to surf!).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to the other members of the group- we had a great time on holiday with you.
Loved everything about the trip- if we were to add one thing, we would have enjoyed trekking.

Family Tropical Island Wonderer Sri Lanka

Such an amazing holiday from start to finish. Was an excellent opportunity for our us and our son to experience the culture of this wonderful country with like minded families.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Without a doubt, it was the opportunity to bathe one of the elephants in the river. Such majestic creatures.

What did you think of your group leader?

Wasanta was magnificent. A very knowledgeable and likeable man with a willing to please. He made things happen for the group and maintained a 'happy camp'!!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

There is a lot of time spent on the coach as there is so much to see and this may be an issue for younger travellers especially. Also a few roads are very 'winding' and if you do not travel well it would be most advisable to obtain a travel sickness solution that works for you. Also invest in decent mosquito repellent - we did and did not receive 1 bite!! Be prepared for visiting the temples with appropriate clothing to cover shoulders and knees, this applies to everyone, even children, and remember not to pose in front of Buddha.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Would just like to thank everyone on our trip for making it a happy and memorable one.

Tropical Island Wanderer - Family

This is a full on trip where you feel like you've had a real taste of Sri Lanka. It ticks all the boxes - wildlife, adventure, culture, food, local life and makes you fall in love with a very beautiful country.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

We thought that cycling around the locality of Sigiraya rock one day and then climbing up it the next was phenomenal. It built everything up and fired the imagination once we were on top of the rock, taking in the tremendous views.
We were lucky enough to be in Kandy when the Esala Perahera was on and our wonderful guide, Sujee, arranged seats for us to watch. The significance of this ceremony to the Sri Lankan people and their mass involvement was inspiring.
Visiting the spice garden and seeing all the things green and growing that are bottled and dried in the kitchen cupboard at home. The oils and remedies are wonderful too.

What did you think of your group leader?

Sujee, our group leader, was brilliant. He was full of information, avidly promoted responsible tourism and was always available if we needed anything - or had more questions. He was wonderfully flexible too - helping our group to arrange alternative trips to the usual optional ones. We all loved how he bought us unusual fruits etc from the roadside for us all to try. He was greatly complemented by Nisha, who looked after us excellently too, and Gama, our very, very skilful and safe driver.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Water is provided on the bus so you don't need water bottles. Take lots and lots of high factor sun cream and insect repellent. Hotel standards way exceeded our expectations - so no 'roughing' it! The trip is quite exhausting with lots of travelling so the time on the beach at the end is much appreciated. Opportunities to obtain cash from ATMs are identified by the guide so you can plan withdrawals.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This was a wonderful trip and we were very lucky that our group got on together so well. It has made me want to visit Sri Lanka again as it was such a great experience.

Island Wonders trip

Not having been on such a trip with our children (16 and 13) before we were not sure what to expect. Truth was, we had a wonderful time with so many experiences it is hard to list them all here but a few to pick out are the cycling around Sigiriya village, whale watching, elephant riding ,tuk-tuk escapades....

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Elephant ride closely followed by whale watching.

What did you think of your group leader?

Sujeewa was brilliant, kind-hearted, patient and adaptable to the different demands of our group. His passion for his country shone out brightly.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

The pace I would say is medium, be prepared for a few long stretches of travel although I think that even then they were broken up with interesting, sometimes impromptu stops to pick up fruits to try, crafts to show and views to see. Also pack a small umbrella for those torrential albeit short rain storms. The age for the trip I think is more suitable for over 8s although we did have a 6 year old in the group who got on well.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

TROPICAL ISLAND WANDERER - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Another great holiday from Exodus. A bit less full on than the other trips we have done (Egypt and India) which was good and Sri Lanka is well worth visiting for the scenery, people and food!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Watching the elephants from the orphanage in the river when having lunchClimbing Lion's RockTravelling through the mountains - amazing countrysideWent out running a lot - everyone so friendly and amazed to see me running - feels quite lonely going out now I am back in England! (watch out for the dogs though!!)

What did you think of your group leader?

Suresh was a great tour leader, spent a lot of time and energy making sure all were happy all the time and keeping us all on track, even playing cricket with my son!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

As other people have said there is a lot of time spent on the coach - although the roads are generally good and not too much traffic, the tuk-tuks and cyclists and the winding roads through the mountains mean that progress is generally slow (better down in the south of the island)

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Go! Is a very relaxing holiday, not too many temples (this is feedback from my children!), elephants amazing, people friendly (and dont hassle you to buy things!) and food very good even for the fussiest of children

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dates & Prices

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An overview of flight options

Exodus is committed to making joining our tours as easy as possible, wherever you live. We generally only block book seats from London, but this certainly does not mean that you need to fly from there. Depending on the route and airlines available, there will usually be various options available for those who want to fly from their local airport.

This page aims to provide a useful overview of the options available to our clients. However, the best flight arrangements should be tailored to your personal requirements, so please contact our Sales team for expert advice.

What kind of options do I have ?

1. We can book for you: Flights from anywhere in the world - not via London

Depending on the route, this may be direct or via an overseas hub like Amsterdam, the Middle East or elsewhere. On short haul routes there may be direct flights with low cost airlines, charter flights or scheduled airlines. Exodus can book most, but not all, of these for you. The most appropriate airline may be different to that which we use for the group flight from London, but many people now travel on different airlines and meet up with their fellow passengers at the destination.

Pros

Cons

May be the most direct route

Often the extra fare compared to the London flight is minimal.

As you will be in the hands a single airline for your entire journey, the airline will be responsible for your bags and your connections.

You may not be able to join the group transfers. However, we can usually arrange private transfers, or book your flights to try and coincide with the group transfers. See notes on transfer arrangements below.

2. We can book for you: Connecting flights from your local airport to London

Exodus can book connecting flights to London so you can join the group flight there. Connecting times will be followed according to airline advice, or as requested by clients. There are two types of fares we can use for this option: a 'through-fare' or a 'published fare'.

a) A 'through-fare' is where you will be in the main airline's care throughout. You change planes, but your bags are checked all the way through to your final destination.

b) A 'published fare' ticket is completely seperate from your onward ticket from London. It is usually cheaper than a through-fare but will need to be paid for and issued as soon as it is booked. This can be a problem if your tour has not yet reached minimum numbers. On 'published fares' neither airline is aware that you have connecting flights, so Exodus is responsible for timing your connection, not the airlines involved. The tickets are also usually non changeable and non refundable.

Pros

Cons

Depending on the fare type, Exodus or the airline is responsible for flight connections.

Through fare tickets can be expensive.

On a published fare, tickets must be issued immediately; tickets on published fares can be very difficult to change if onward flight times change; bags are not checked though to your final destination.

Published fares are non-refundable.

3. Booking some or all of the flights yourself

You can also book connecting air travel yourself, either to London, or all the way to the start point. There may be certain airlines or routes we don't have access to, so this is always an option. However, if you make your own travel arrangements you become liable for any delays, cancellations or missed connections, and Exodus is not required to offer refunds if you have trouble reaching the start of your trip.

Pros

Cons

You might find cheaper fares, or routes not available to Exodus.

You are responsible for any delays or missed connections, and the cost of the tour is not protected should you miss your flight be cancelled.

Notes on transfer arrangements

Sometimes it is possible to travel on a different airline to the group flight from London. Where this is the case, we need to think about ensuring you meet up with the group with minimum extra cost and hassle.

On certain trips, it is easy to arrive on a different flight and still meet the group at the hotel with time in hand. We can usually arrange private transfers (at extra cost) or offer advice on taking a taxi to the start hotel.

On other trips (especially in Europe), the transfer meets the group flight and then travels some distance to the first night's accommodation. Where this is the case, our Sales team will try to arrange flights that arrive before (and depart after) the group. However, we do have to make it clear in your final documentation that if your flights are delayed, the transfer cannot wait for you. While Exodus or our local operators will do what we can to help you reach the start point of the tour, any additional costs must be paid by the client.

Next steps?

If you are keen to end your holiday on a very relaxed note we can arrange a visit to the Maldives, just 1 hour flying time from Colombo. For more details on this particular extension please go to page 3 of the Trip Notes. Alternatively, you can call one of our Sales team, who will be happy to assist you.

Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate If you book arrangements other than an ATOL protected flight or a package holiday, the financial protection referred to above does not apply. Our ATOL number is 2582 and our ABTA number is Y0751.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the NHS has up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk